It's rare that I even think about buying a new perfume these days — I have enough to last me and then some — but shower gels are another matter entirely. For one thing, even if I don't end up loving them, and even if I have too many in my shower already, they will get used up before they spoil. Lush is a favorite, and they launch new products at a steady pace, so it's not unusual for me to want, say, 4 or 5 or 6 of them at once. My trips to the mall are few and far between, though, and Lush products come and go relatively quickly, which explains why in a fit of panic I recently ordered 5 products unsniffed, lest they sell out before I get my hands on them.
Posh Chocolate Shower Gel was an obvious lemming, since I adore everything about the Posh Chocolate Body Wash except the packaging — it's kind of amusing to scoop something that looks and smells just like brownie batter out of a tub, but isn't all that convenient, especially if you do as much product blending as I do. The shower gel is just as amazingly edible-smelling, and as with the body wash, a tiny dab blends well with almost everything: Lush Rose Jam, Lush Sticky Dates, any sort of citrus or fruity shower gel you can think of, etc etc. If they keep making it, it will be a staple. For now, I've just got the 100 ml travel size, which I purchased in a gift set that came with...
Posh Chocolate Body Lotion. It's the same brownie batter smell, just not quite as intense, and at first I was slightly disappointed. But I have come to appreciate that they didn't go overboard. The shower products don't last on skin, but the lotion does, and the light waft of milky chocolate batter that lingers on my bathrobe and clothing is just right, and makes it a good base for layering with fragrance. (The gift set, which also includes a Soft Coeur Massage Bar, is $44. At the moment they are not selling the lotion separately. You can buy the shower gel separately, 3 sizes, $12.50 - $40, or a scrub in 2 sizes, $16 - $32.*)
Cherry Pop Shower Gel is an ugly shade of green in the bottle, and yes, as advertised, it turns red when you pour it in your hand, although it stays green on a scrub sponge until it hits skin. In the bottle, it smells pretty much like cherry cough syrup, and it would be perfect for me if it stayed that way. Alas, as it hits water the cherry fades, and I may end up using the whole bottle just trying to figure out what the "dry down" reminds me of...it's not bad, but it's not cherry pop or cherry candy or cherry anything to me either, and it's not quite the almond, lime, balsamic vinegar and cinnamon notes listed on the Lush website either. The reviews there, by the way, are much more positive than mine. I am not hating it at all but I have not found any way to improve it by blending (I tried it with all the other shower gels reviewed here, plus a few others) and I won't replace it when it's gone. (Limited edition and already listed as "last chance"; 3 sizes, $12.50 - $40.)
Bananaaa Shower Cream, from the Minions collection, is a bright, almost-alarming yellow, and has a fun banana candy smell that reminds me of a bit of Comptoir Sud Pacifique Vanille Banane, but blended here with lots and lots of coconut. On its own, it smells like a tropical cocktail waiting for its rum float and umbrella; blended with Posh Chocolate, it reminds me somewhat of a Mounds Bar. I like this one quite a bit more than the Cherry Pop, but Lush shower gels are a splurge, so I have to love them if I'm going to replace one after it's gone. Bananaaa doesn't quite qualify. (Limited Edition, 3 sizes, $12.50 - $40.)
On the other hand, I had only used Sunrise Shower Gel twice before I went back and ordered three 250 ml bottles (they did not have the larger size in stock and they still don't): I learned my lesson with Wash Behind Your Ears and Mimosa, both long gone and sorely missed. They've captured the cheerful color of SunnyD or some other "orange drink", and the gel smells like fresh orange juice with a generous twist of lemon peel. It is beautifully zesty and bright, and a big dollop with a little dab of Posh Chocolate* or Sticky Dates or Rose Jam is lovely. It also goes well with Bananaaa, and yes, Sunrise + Bananaaa + Posh Chocolate is pretty enjoyable too. If it were not so expensive (and about to be so rare), it would replace ShiKai Yuzu as my basic blending agent, and if it was added to the regular line up, it would replace Happy Hippy as my must-have-at-all-times shower gel from Lush. (Limited edition and already listed as "last chance"; 2 sizes, $12.50 - $26.)
If you've tried any of these, or found any other fun shower gels recently, do comment!
*I should note that Lush also has a Chocolate Orange shower gel at the moment, but it's a subscription exclusive, plus there's a Posh White Chocolate and Rose that's sold in a gel, body wash and scrub.
It’s pretty easy to drop a bundle at Lush, so since my last purchase (Cinder body spray), I’m in avoidance mode. Enjoy your goodies, they sound delightful and fun!
It is very easy to drop a bundle! I don’t mind a splurge there once in awhile, it’s still way less than I used to spend on perfume.
Just discovering the wonders of Lush. I made a quick stop this week but only came away with Sleepy lotion to go with my sleepy shower gel. Have to figure out where all these wonders are!
Enjoy your new lotion! Jessica liked Sleepy.
According to my Lush SA, Posh Chocolate shower gel will now be a permanent product. A “flanker” – Post White Chocolate and Roses shower gel is out now and it is delicious too.
I like Bananaa too. It makes me so happy and look forward to using it each time.
I have learned my lesson, nothing is permanent at Lush, even if it is not released as a limited edition. It’s just “more permanent-ish” 😉
Bananaa really is happy. If there were a bit less coconut and a bit more banana I would probably buy another bottle.
Another fan of White Chocolate and Roses, here! I got the smallest size but already want more…
I will smell it next time I’m in a Lush, but I pretty much hate white chocolate as a food so am not predisposed to love it…
Way back when, Lush was a business Called Cosmetics To Go, based on the south coast of England. I used to order their products via their paper catalogue (anyone else remember them – I am a lady of a certain age!?) & I absolutely adored their Ginger fragrance – whenever & wherever I wore it people, complete strangers, would come up to me in a pub, restaurant, on public transport & compliment me on it or ask what I was wearing. I see it’s still available but I don’t know if it’s been reformulated since all those years ago.
It’s hard to believe it’s not reformulated by now, nearly everything is, but might be worth a shot!
You’re quite right of course – I just wasn’t thinking that far ahead!
I gather from some of the reviews I read prior to buying it just now that it has been reformulated at least once, possibly more times. Fragrantica lists one that was launched in 2011, but I think there was one that existed prior to that and then was off the market for a bit. I’m pretty sure that the current perfume is also not the 2011 version. We’ll see what turns up in the mail this week; it may not match the sample that was shared with me (I think that was older), but Luca Turin sampled recently and liked it, so fingers crossed. And at least it wasn’t crazy expensive.
Thank you for the info. Luca Turin liking it gives me hope, for sure. I will definitely swing past my local branch next time I’m in town.
Robin, FYI, I see Wash Behind Your Ears shower gel on the Lush site.
HA, looks like they brought it back for Easter, and they did it right after I made my last order! That is annoying but I am going to have to get some. Huge thanks springpansy!
And on further investigation, they’ve changed the ingredients. It no longer lists the carrot infusion or gardenia. I might have to wait and smell it in person to make sure I still like it.
Yes!
I currently am using LUSH Flying Fox and B Electro showergels. The B Electro is a radioactive acid green color but a lovely combo of grapefruit, fennel and rose. Too bad it was a limited edition last year.
I missed B Electro and did not get Flying Fox last time it was out, but will get it next time around…it is too strong/sweet for me on its own but I have mixing ideas 🙂
I’ve become so enamored of bar soaps these days it is hard to go back to shower gel. I wish Lush’s bar soaps were as interesting as their shower gels! Flying Foxes isn’t too strong or sweet for me 😁—I’d buy a lifetime supply if they pulled off a bar that was equal to the gel.
That Cherry Pop was seriously tempting until your review.
We are opposites…I still buy soaps but have trouble making myself use them!
Thanks for these, Robin. I think I’ll skip Cherry Pop after all. And looks like Sunrise is sold out right now so good thing you stocked up.
Gosh, they still had Sunrise when I posted…that’s a shame. Won’t surprise me if they bring it back though, selling out relatively quickly is a good sign.